Counting section shielding device for paper sheet counting machine

ABSTRACT

A counting section shielding device for shielding the counting section of a paper sheet counting machine including a paper holder for holding paper sheets to be counted, a plurality of rotatable suction cylinders carried on a suction drum for sucking the paper sheets one by one so as to count the number of the same. The counting machine includes a comparator for comparing the actual counted number of the paper sheets with a preset number. The shielding device includes a pair of sound-proof covers which can be opened to provide easy access to the inside of the counting section so that the paper holder may be charged with the paper sheets and which can be closed to extend above the counting section so that this section may be shielded to prevent escape of noise and dust. Further included is an electric circuit which is made operative to effect the closing operations of the sound-proof covers and to effect the opening operations of the sound-proof covers as well as the paper holder in case that the comparison by the comparator shows the counted number to be equal to the preset number. In case the comparison shows the numbers to be unequal, a resetting signal is manually operated to effect the opening operations of the sound-proof covers and the paper holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a paper sheet countingmachine, and more particularly to a counting section shielding devicefor use with the paper sheet counting machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a counting sectionshielding device for use with a paper sheet counting machine of thetype, in which paper sheets to be counted are held by a paper holder sothat they may be counted by means of rotary suction cylinders and inwhich a comparator is provided to compare the actual counted number witha preset number.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a counting sectionshielding device of the above type, which is equipped with a pair ofdouble-leaf type sound-proof covers which can be closed, after the paperholder is charged with the paper sheets, so that the paper sheets can becounted safely and reliably, shielded to prevent escape of noise anddust.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a countingsection shielding device of the above type, in which the paper holderand the sound-proof covers are automatically opened to provide easyaccess to the inside of the counting section in case the actual countednumber is equal to the preset number, so that the paper sheets can besmoothly taken out of the paper holder, whereby the operator is able toconfirm from the automatic opening of the sound-proof covers that thecount is proper.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a countingsection shielding device of the above type, in which the paper holderand the sound-proof covers are left closed in case the two numbers arefound unequal but can be opened by the manual operation of a resettingbutton, whereby the operator is able to confirm a problem in the count.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a countingsection shielding device of the above type, in which the countingoperations can be accomplished with sufficient confirmation.

According to a major feature of the present invention, there is provideda counting section shielding device for use with a paper sheet countingmachine comprising: a counting section including a paper holder mademovable between an open stand-by position in which the machine is readyto receive paper sheets for counting and a closed holding position forholding the paper sheets, a rotatable suction drum, and a plurality ofrotatable suction cylinders carried on said suction drum for sucking thepaper sheets one by one so as to count the number of the same; and acomparator for comparing the actual counted number with a preset number,said counting section shielding device comprising: a pair of double-leaftype sound-proof covers made movable between an open position forproviding easy access to said counting section and a closed position inwhich the shielding device extends above said counting section so as toshield the same to prevent escape of noise and dust; an electric circuitfor generating closing signals after said paper holder is charged withthe paper sheets and for generating opening signals in case that thecomparison by said comparator shows the counted number to be equal tothe preset number but not in case that the comparison shows said numbersto be unequal, said electric circuit including a resetting button mademanually operable for generating the opening signals of said electriccircuit; and drive means made responsive to both the closing signals ofsaid electric circuit for closing said sound-proof covers and theopening signals of the same for opening said sound-proof covers as wellas said paper holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a paper sheet counting machine for usewith a counting section shielding device according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the paper sheetcounting machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away front elevation showing the portion ofthe paper sheet counting machine of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit for controllingthe operations of the counting section shielding device of FIGS. 1 to 3;and

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 1 but explains the operations of the countingsection shielding device with its sound-proof covers opened.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, theconstruction of a paper sheet counting machine according to the presentinvention will be explained. As shown, an upper slope 1 is partiallyremoved to form an opening, which is equipped with a pair of side plates2 and 2' one at either side. A counter section including a paper holder3 and a plurality of suction cylinders 4 is arranged inside the openingat its lower bottom. The paper holder 3 is made swingable from acharging position, in which it is charged with a bundle of paper sheets5, to a counting position, in which it holds the paper sheets 5 so thatthe latter may be counted, as better seen in FIG. 5. The suctioncylinders 4 are rotatably mounted on a rotary suction drum 7 so that thepaper sheets 5 can be sucked and peeled one by one by the action of thesuction cylinders 4, while being held on a holding rod 6, so that theymay be counted. The construction of the paper sheet counting machinethus described is of known type, and accordingly a detailed discussionwill be omitted here.

According to the present invention, there are arranged above the openingof the slope 1 a pair of sound-proof covers 8 and 8' which are made of atransparent material and which are of the so-called "double-leaf" type.If the sound-proof covers 8 and 8' are closed until their inside edges8a and 8a' abut against each other, they cover the paper holder 3 andthe suction cylinders while preventing the escape of noise and dust. Forthese operations, the sound-proof covers 8 and 8' are equipped withslide members 11 and 11', which are made slidable sideways along theupper and lower rails 10 and 10'. These rails 10 and 10' are attached tothe inner wall of a guide 9 which in turn is fixed at the lower frontportions of the two covers 8 and 8'. Moreover, a pair of supportingplates 12 and 12' is fixed to the rear portions of the sound-proofcovers 8 and 8' and are equipped at its inside with rollers not shownwhich are fitted in a sidewise guide 13. As a result, the twosound-proof covers 8 and 8' act as double leaves which can be movedsideways so that they may be opened and closed.

With reference to FIG. 3, a pair of pulleys 14 and 14' are journaled atthe left-hand side of the guide 9 whereas another pulley 15 is journaledat the right-hand side of the same. A chain 17 is made to run on thosepulleys 14, 15 and 14' and the pulley 16 of a shielded motor SM.Moreover, the slide members 11 and 11' are carried on the chain 17 atits upper and lower sideway portions. As a result, then the shilededmotor SM is energized, the sound-proof covers 8 and 8' can be moved inthe opposite directions. There is also provided at an upper position aposition detecting switch 18 which is made operative to detect the limitpositions for the opening and closing operations of the covers 8 and 8'thereby to stop the shielded motor SM at those limit positions.

Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown in a block diagram an electriccircuit which is to be used with the paper sheet counting machineaccording to the present invention. As shown, reference letter Adesignates a counter for counting the number of the paper sheets 5.Letter B designates a presetter for setting a predetermined number.Letter C designates a comparator, whereas letter E designates a delaycircuit. Letter D designates charge terminating signals which aregenerated when the paper holder 3 is charged with the paper sheets 5.Letters HM designate a holder motor for driving the paper holder 3.Letter R designates a resetting button.

The operations of the so constructed paper sheet counting machine willbe described in the following. Consideration is first given to thecondition wherein the two sound-proof covers 8 and 8' are positioned attheir left- and right-hand extremities, as shown in double-dotted linesin FIG. 2 and in broken lines in FIG. 5. If, in this condition, thepaper holder 3, which is opened as shown in double-dotted lines in FIG.5, is charged with the paper sheets 5, this charge is detected by meansof a start detecting switch (not shown) in a similar manner to theconventional machine so that the charge terminating signals D aregenerated, as seen from FIG. 4. As a result, the holder motor H isenergized to start its rotations. With a delay predetermined by thedelay circuit E, the shielded motor SM is also energized to start itsrotations. As a result, the chain 17 is driven to move the slide members11 and 11' in the opposite directions so that the two covers 8 and 8'are moved toward each other until their inner edges 8a and 8a' abutagainst each other. At these abutting positions, the shielded motor SMis stopped by the action of the position detecting switch 18 so that theupper portion of the counting section is shielded with the twosound-proof covers 8 and 8' while preventing the escape of noise anddust. By the rotations of the holder motor HM, on the other hand, thepaper sheets 5 are brought into contact with the suction cylinders 4until the holder motor HM is stopped. Thus, the paper sheets 5 aresucked one by one by the respective suction cylinders 4 so that theirnumber can be counted. After these counting operations, the countedresult is fed to the comparator C so that it may be subjected tocomparison with a preset number. In case the counted number is foundequal to the preset number, the comparator C generates coincidencesignal so that both the holder motor HM and the shielded motor SM areturned in their opening directions. As a result, the paper holder 3 andboth sound-proof covers 8 and 8' are opened to provide easy access tothe paper sheets 5 so that these paper sheets 5 can be taken out of thepaper holder 3 as they are.

After the counting operations, on the contrary, if the counted number isnot equal to the preset number so that no coincidence signal isgenerated from the comparator C, then both the holder motor HM and theshielded motor SM are left unenergized in their closed conditions sothat the sound-proof covers 8 and 8' are left closed. If, in this case,the resetting button R is depressed, the memory of the counter A iscleared, and at the same time both the holder motor HM and the shieldedmotor SM are energized. As a result, the paper holder 3 and both covers8 and 8' are opened so that the paper sheets 5 can be taken out of thepaper holder 3.

As has been described hereinbefore, the paper sheet counting machine tobe improved by the present invention is of the type in which the papersheets can be held by the paper holder and can be counted by the suctioncylinders, in which the counting section including the holder and thecylinders can be shielded with the double-leaf type sound-proof covers,and in which the comparator is provided to compare the counted numberwith the preset number. According to the present invention, thesound-proof covers are closed to make the counting operations possibleafter the paper holder is charged with the paper sheets. Moreover, incase the comparator finds the counted number and the preset number to beequal, the sound-proof covers are opened together with the paper holder.If, on the contrary, the numbers are found to be unequal, the paperholder and the sound-proof covers are left closed, but they can bereleased and opened by the depression of the resetting button of theelectric circuit. Thanks to the above construction, the sound-proofcovers are closed after the charging operation of the paper sheets sothat these sheets can be counted safely and reliably while preventingthe escape of noise and dust. If the counted number is found equal tothe preset number, the paper holder and the sound-proof covers areautomatically opened, so that he can take out the peper sheets smoothlywithout any difficulty and from the fact that the sound-proof coversopened automatically the operator is able to confirm that the count isproper. In the unequal case, on the contrary, the paper holder and thesound-proof covers are left closed, a fact which allows the operator toconfirm that the count is improper, and by depressing the resettingbutton he can open the paper holder and the covers. As a result, he canalso take out the paper sheets so as to shoot the troubles, if any. Inthese ways, according to the present invention, the counting operationscan be accomplished with sufficient confirmation but without any error.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a paper sheet counting machine comprising: acounting section including a paper holder made movable between an openstand-by position in which the machine in ready to receive paper sheetsfor counting and a closed holding position for holding the paper sheets,a rotatable suction drum, and a plurality of rotatable suction cylinderscarried on said suction drum for sucking the paper sheets one by one soas to count the number of the same; and a comparator for comparing theactual counted number with a preset number,a counting section shieldingdevice comprising: a pair of double-leaf type sound-proof covers mademovable between an open position for providing easy access to saidcounting section and a closed position in which the shielding deviceextends above said counting section so as to shield the same and preventthe escape of noise and dust; an electric circuit for generating closingsignals after said paper holder is charged with the paper sheets and forgenerating opening signals when the comparison by said comparator showsthe counted number to be equal to the preset number but not when thecomparison shows said numbers to be unequal, said electric circuitincluding a resetting button made manually operable for generating theopening signals of said electric circuit; and drive means maderesponsive to both the closing signals of said electric circuit forclosing said sound-proof covers and the opening signals of the same foropening said sound-proof covers as well as said paper holder.
 2. Acounting section shielding device according to claim 1, wherein saiddrive means includes a holder motor made coactive with said comparatorand the resetting button of said electric circuit for bringing saidpaper holder into the open stand-by position and into the closed holdingposition, a shielded motor made coactive with said comparator and saidresetting button, and a power train made to run by said shielded motorfor bringing said sound-proof covers into the open position and into theclosed position.
 3. A counting section shielding device according toclaim 1, further comprising guide means for guiding the movements ofsaid sound-proof covers.
 4. A counting section shielding deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said electric circuit includes delay meansmade responsive to the termination of the charging operation of saidpaper holder for effecting the operation bringing said sound-proofcovers into the closed position with a preset delay after the operationbringing said paper holder into the closed holding position.